Babies Are Here!!

Well...it has been almost 4 weeks since I updated last and there is a good reason for it.  The babies made their appearance on November 19th!!  In my last post, I had gone to the doctor for my week 36 check-up on Wednesday and there were no changes.  I still wasn't dilated any.  On Thursday night, I started having lots of contractions and went into be checked on Friday.  I saw Dr. Beaudrot and he said there were still no changes.  Saturday, I was at my mom's just standing in the kitchen around lunch time and it was like I peed on myself.  This had never happened before so I wasn't sure if I had peed on myself or if my water had broke.  I texted Justin because he was in the woods hunting and told him that he might need to come home.  I called the nurse on call and she told me that it could just be that one of the babies had pushed on my bladder.  She told me to change my pad, be sure my bladder was empty, and that if it were to happen again, that I needed to call her back.  It happened 2 more times, so I called the nurse back and she wanted me to go to the hospital and be checked.  We got there a little after 4:00.  They did a test to check and see if the fluid I was leaking was amiotic fluid and it was.  This test isn't the best one so then they did another test.  The first test doesn't cost me anything but the second did...that is why they start with the first test.  Dr. Carter was on call and he ordered the second test.  It came back positive too so that meant babies would be born that night.  So, we called our parents and told them that this was it!!  Justin's family was having their family gathering with the Leopard's...so Mike & Dottie had to try and get everyone gone so they could be there when the babies were born.  The anithesioligist came in and told me everything he would be doing and that we would go into surgery within the next 45 minutes.  This would have been about 6:00.  Our families all got to the hospital as we were sitting in the room just waiting.  There was an emergency in the ER, so they pushed my section back until 8:00.  BUT...about 7:15 the nurses came in and told Justin to get dressed we would be heading back within 15 minutes.  It seemed like a million people were in and out of the room doing things and boy did I start getting nervous!!  We headed back at 7:30.  Justin wasn't allowed in the room while they did the spinal.  As soon as that was over and Dr. Carter had started cutting on me, Justin was allowed in the room.  At 7:54, Evan Curtis Turner was born and weighed 6lb 3oz.  At 7:56 Emma Caroline Turner was born and weighed 5lb 8oz.  Both babies were doing good and didn't have to go to the NICU!!  They took the babies to recovery and Justin went with them while Dr. Carter finished up with me.  It took me about 30 more minutes and they wheeled me into recovery with the babies.  Evan's sugar was low so we had to immediately try breastfeeding him.  He sucked a little bit but not enough so they had to feed him some from the syringe.  Emma's breathing was too fast, so they made me hold her skin to skin to see if that would slow her breathing down.  It worked and feeding Evan brought his sugar up...so we just had to wait and be watched for the next 2 hours.  Both babies got their first bath and finally it was time to go back into my room and let our families see the babies.  They wheeled me in first and then the babies behind me.  Justin thought it would be a fun idea to let everyone guess who was who.  They were all able to guess who was who!!  That was Saturday night.  Sunday, was a bad day!!  We were VERY sleep deprived.  Not because the babies didn't sleep Saturday night...we just didn't sleep for worrying and watching them all night.  Then, with all the visitors we had Sunday there was no time for sleeping.  Both babies were not nursing like they should and that of course was also stressful.  We sent the babies to the nursery for about an hour so we could get some sleep and while they were in there...Emma sit up a lot and turned gray so they had to run something down in her stomach to try and get out as much mucus as they could.  C-section babies have a lot more mucus than vaginal deliveries because this mucus is squeezed out when they go through the birth canal.  Emma's weight was down to 5lb 4oz.  Of course this worried me because 1) she wasn't keeping her food down and 2) if they go less than 5lb...they have to go to NICU.  Plus, on top of that I wasn't going to the bathroom like I should have been.  If I didn't go, they were going to put the caithiter back in.  All this happened Sunday afternoon so I had a little meltdown.  There were people in the hall waiting to see us and I was in the bathroom crying my eyes out to my mom for like 30 minutes.  We ended up sending the babies back to the nursery again Sunday night so we could get some rest.  That was the best decision we could have made.  Monday was much better...baby wise. Evan had his circumcison and did great!!  The doctor said he didn't even cry until it was over.   They had told us that he probably wouldn't eat much that day but he ate like normal. Both babies had their hearing test and passed as well as other test they run on newborns.  Me on the other hand... I didn't do so good.  After the section Saturday...my stomach was almost gone.  By Monday...it had swollen so much from gas that it was almost unbearable!!  They were giving me everything possible to help me pass the gas and nothing was really working.  I even had to walk laps around the hospital trying to help.  That plus being so sore was horrible!!  We were dismissed on Tuesday and got to go home.  Emma's dismissal weight was 5lb 2 oz and Evan's was 6lb 1oz.  Their jaundice levels were 10 on Tuesday.  The doctors don't normally do anything unless the levels were 14.  So, we had to go in for a check on Wednesday and their levels were up to 12...so they had to wear these billy blankets to help.  With the next day being Thursday and Thanksgiving...Dr. Felder didn't want their levels to go to 14 and no one be open to get the blankets to the babies.  So, we spent Thanksgiving wearing these blankets and had to go back on Friday for more bloodwork to see where their levels were.  They were back down to 9 so they were able to come off the blankets.  Since then...we have been adjusting to life with twins!!  My mom has been a lifesaver!!  She has practically lived with me for the past 3 almost 4 weeks and I know we couldn't have made it without her.  She is the best mom ever and I hope to be as good as her one day!!  We went for our two week check-up last Friday, Dec. 9th.  Evan was up to 7lb 7oz and Emma was up to 6lb 5oz.  Both babies are growing.  Evan can no longer wear preemie outfits!!  Both babies still have heads full of hair and it seems to be growing like crazy too.  Before long...Emma will be able to wear her hairbows!!  I can't wait.  I think we have finally figured out a good formula for both babies and they seem to be getting into a sleeping pattern at night.  I think me & Justin are just finally figuring them out.  We are a little sleep deprived but nothing like it could be.  With Christmas just around the corner we have lots going on.  I will try to update again soon!!

Week 36

Today starts weeks 36!!  I can't believe we still don't have any babies!!  Since week 25, I have worried and worried that they would come too early and have to go to the NICU and here we are 11 weeks later and the babies don't have any desire to come out!!  I had my weekly appointment with Dr. Forrest yesterday.  She also couldn't believe I was still pregnant.  She actually said "We have done a good job keeping you pregnant this long!"  If we make it to 37 weeks...they will be considered full-term.  I think for the most part all their organs should be developed by now.  The last thing to develop is their lungs and with all the steroid shots I have gotten...their lungs should be good to go!!  Plus...if they are gaining weight like they should, they should weigh about 6 lbs now.  That is 12 pounds of baby and since I have now gained 20 lbs...they are still the majority of that weight gain!!  Dr. Forrest checked me today to see if I had dilated any.  She said I hadn't and that the only thing keeping me from dilating is the fact that I had the LEEP back in 2007 and it created scar tissue that is keeping my cervix closed.  I think she could tell I was a little disappointed that even with getting up last week that nothing had changed.  She changed her mind and said I might be dilated 1 cm or a fingertip!!  I think she was just trying to make me feel better!! I am no longer taking my Procartia for contractions.  I guess they don't need to control them anymore.  I feel like I am having them all the time but they still aren't very strong.  Dr. Forrest wants me to have another ultrasound next Tuesday to check their growth one more time before the section...if I am still pregnant next Tuesday.  I can pretty much guarantee I will still be pregnant.  Then I will get to see Dr. Forrest afterwards.  This will be my last regular appointment before the babies are born.  IF I am still pregnant the following week...I will have my c-section on the 29th of November.  I will have to go to the Diagnostic Center on the 28th, which is Monday, for my pre-op and they will tell me what time to be at the hospital on Tuesday.  On the other hand...I had the strangest thing happen to me last night.  I was laying in the bed and praying for the babies because they hadn't really be moving that much.  I have been really worried about that because it their movement decreases it could be that something is wrong.  So, as I laid there praying that my sweet babies were okay, I distinctly heard a voice say "tonight at 8:00".  I am not really sure what this means...but all I can think is that these babies are going to be born tonight at 8:00.  That thought really SCARES me.  It may have nothing to do with the babies but it was really weird.  I immediately woke Justin up and told him what had happened just in case they do come tonight...I wanted him to know what happened!!  So, we are just patiently waiting to see what happens and on the arrival of out little miracles.  We are so ready to meet them.  I am ready for the whole labor part to be over with and to be able to hold our babies and not have to worry about them as much anymore.  I know my worrying is just beginning but it will be a different kind of worrying!!  I will be able to hold them and know they are alive and well!!  While they are still inside me, I can't tell what is going on with them!!  So, unless something changes between now and next Tuesday...I will be updating next week.  If Emma & Evan decided to make their appearance sooner...I will be sure to post sooner!!  Until next time...

Week 35

Well, we made it to 35 weeks!!  I had my weekly appointment this afternoon with Dr. Carter.  He was very impressed that I was still pregnant!!  He said I have done really good and that if he were me he would be getting up now.  So, I don't have to lay down all the time anymore.  If the babies were to come now...the should be just fine.  I still haven't dilated any but my cervix is very thin.  I feel like as soon as I do start getting up some it won't be long before they come.  He also stopped the home monitor for contractions.  The purpose of this was to keep me from going into labor early but if I were to go into labor now...they wouldn't stop it so the monitoring was really pointless.  We are scheduling my section for either Nov. 29th or Dec. 1st because those are the two days in week 38 that Dr. Forrest is working.  They don't really think I will go that far, but it will definitely give me an end date to look forward too.  We will definitley know which day tomorrow.  Dec. 1st would be cool since that was Grammy's birthday but I am hoping we don't go that far.  I am really hoping they come next Friday so they will be home for Thanksgiving. Whenever they want to come will be fine..but if I could choose next Friday will be great!!  My next appointment is on Tuesday of next week with Dr. Forrest at 3:40.  They wanted me to schedule my appointment with her since she will be the one doing my section if we make it to the scheduled date.  Unless something happens before then, I will post more next week after our appointment.  We have all our bags packed and ready to go.  We are just waiting for Emma & Evan to make their appearance!! 

Week 34

As for week 34...it's almost gone & still no babies!!  We are doing awesome!!  We went for our growth ultrasound last Wednesday.  Evan weighed 5lb 9oz & Emma weighed 5lb 4oz.  That was great news because if they weigh at least 5 lbs and can breathe on their own...that will mean no NICU!!!  That has been one of the main things we have been praying for.  Along with two healthy babies and a safe delivery.  On the ultrasound you could Emma was practicing breathing which is a good sign that her lungs are developing.  They may not be full mature just yet, but she will probably be able to breathe on her own.  Evan wasn't doing very much this time other than covering his face with his hands!  He didn't want us messing with him apparently!!  Also, the ultrasound lady pointed out to us that Emma has hair.  I was so excited because I already have her LOTs of hairbows and I may get to use them sooner rather than later!!  I saw Dr. Beaudrot after the ultrasound and he said both babies looked great.  I was supposed to schedule my c-section but the lady was already gone for the day since our appointment was so late.  He told me to call back the next day and they would schedule it.  I called on Friday and the lady was supposed to check with Dr. Forrest today and call me.  Since I still haven't heard from her...it looks like I may be asking again at my appoinment on Wednesday.  We did have to go to the hospital on Sunday.  Saturday night when I monitored I hade 14 contractions the first hour.  I had to remonitor and only had 4 the second hour.  Then Sunday morning, I had 7 contractions the first hour, 9 contractions the second hour, and 4 the third hour.  My Alere nurse called and Dr. Erickson was on call again.  He thought I needed to come in and  be checked.  So to the hospital we go!!  They hooked me up to the monitors and I wasn't really having any contractions.  He did check me and I still haven't dilated any so they sent me home.  Like I said before, we have another appointment on Wednesday with Dr. Carter.  I will keep you posted on how that goes.  I am hoping the babies come this Friday so their birthday will be 11-11-11.  I doubt that will happen but it would be a cool birthday..plus we would hopefully be home before Thanksgiving!!  We will see though! 

Week 33

Well, the past two weeks have been anything but uneventful!!  I have offically become a regular at the hospital, but if it keeps my babies in a little longer...that is where I will go!!  We saw Dr. Carter at my week 32 apointmant.  Still not dilated any and did another FFN test which was negative again.  Woo Hoo!!  That should get us safely to 34 weeks.  The following Saturday, which was Oct. 22nd, Alison got engaged and sent me to the hospital because I had 20 contractions within one hour!!  I was already remonitoring when she came by because I had to many contractions the first hour and as you can tell me, Emma, & Evan got a little too excited.  They just monitored me for a while and things seemed to settle down.  Dr. Forrest did check me again & still wasn't dilated any!  So, we came home fairly quickly and Justin still managed to get in his deer hunting for the day!!  My 33 week appointment was the next Thursday, the 27th, with Dr. Forerest...who I am really starting to LOVE!!  She told us it was fabulous that we had made it to 33 weeks and that we could breathe a lot easier now.  They don't worry as much about long term birth defects once a baby reaches 33 weeks.  We definitely decided on a c-section.  No need to chance a natural birth that ends up in a c-section anyway.  We will schedule that at my 34 weeks appointment, which is this Wednesday, Nov.2nd. We also have an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday to check their growth!!  Back to last week though.  On Saturday, Oct. 29th, I woke up feeling like I was having contractions, so I decided to monitor earlier than normal.  I had 8 in that hour and they don't want me having more than 5, so I had to remonitor!  The second time I only had 3...so they said I was okay.  The contractions still seemed to be coming all afternoon, so I just decided to remonitor myself.  This time I only had 5 but they sent me on to the hospital to be checked anyway.  Hints why I feel like a regular at the hospital now!! :)  They had to give me a shot to stop the contractions and it worked for a little while but they started back up too quickly.  Dr. Erickson was on call.  He came and checked me and I still haven't dilated any so they gave me another shot for the contractions and it worked better this time.  He wanted to do anotherr FFN test.  Dr. Forest told me at my 33 week appointment that they wouldn't  repeat this test anymore because the likelihood of me going into labor within the next few weeks was very high anyway.  But, Dr. Erickson went ahead and it did come back positive. We weren't surprised.  So, they decide to give me a 2nd steroid shot to make sure the babies lungs are as developed as possible, should they come within the next two weeks.  We got to come home Sunday night, after the 2nd dose of the steroid shot and that brings us up to date!!  Here it is Monday morning and we have almost made it to 34 weeks. Woo Hoo!!  I will update again Wednesday after the ultrasound!!  Let's hope Emma & Evan are growing and are still measuring right on track or ahead would be nice!  Until next time...  

Week 31

Well, we have made it to week 31!!  So, whats been happening over the past two weeks???  Lots of stuff!!   We saw Dr. Forest for my week 30 check-up.  She was awesome! We did another FFN test which came back NEGATIVE again...Woo Hoo!!  She scheduled me an ultrasound and also set me up for home monitoring for the contractions!  She did more at that appointment than any of the others for the past 4 weeks.  My cervix was still closed and even though it was very soft, she said she could still feel a little thickness.  She could also feel Evan's head!  I panicked and quickly asked if he was coming and as she laughed she said No!  So now we are monitoring contractions from home.  Everyday, I will have to hook myself up for an hour at the time twice a day and this machine monitors me.  Then I have to send the report to a nurse that will review it.  I also have to take my blood pressure and send that once a day too.  They will be calling everyday to check on me.  This has so far, not been the experience I was expecting.  We have had a trip to the hospital and lots of calls to the doctor's office because I am having so many contractions!!  Thankfully they aren't painful yet and aren't strong enough to make me start dilating!  I am now taking my procardia every 4 hours and three of the six times I take it each day...I have to take 2 pills!!  As for my 31 week ultrasound!  Both babies are head down.  Still haven't decided on delivery yet though!  Both babies were measuring 31 weeks, which was right on track.  Evan weighs 3lb 15oz and Emma weighs 3lb 10oz.  Almost 4 lbs each!! :)  On Thursday..the day after my ultrasound and dr. appointment, I felt horrible all day.  At 4:30, I started throwing up and it just got worse!  Ended up going to the hospital because I was getting dehydrated and had to stay until Saturday, so I could stay on an IV.  We think this all stemed from acid reflux...which I am now on medicine for and it is helping tremendously!!  Plus, I had a bladder infection.  Sunday, we had our "Bare Bottom Babies" shower with Justin's family and it was GREAT!!  We got lots of diapers & wipes!!  Tuesday rolled around and I started cramping like you wouldn't believe!  I got real worried because this is a sure sign of labor!  Mind you we were 1 day away from 32 weeks!  Ended up back at the hospital and found out I had a bad UTI.  Apparently it didn't get cleared up from when I was in the hospital previously even though I was on antibiotics while there.  Dr. Dixon checked me and my cervix is still closed.  We changed over to 32 weeks today and go for my regular appointment tomorrow!  We will update again next week.  Still hoping for at least two more weeks before they come!!  We can do it!  God has definitely been on our side here lately and we just know He is watching over me & these babies!!  My new favorite verse has become John 14:14..."Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it".  We are just asking that He gives us two healthy babies in His timing, a safe delivery, & no NICU!!  Now we are just trusting in His promise and awaiting the arrival of our little miracles as we continue on in Our Faithful Journey!!

Week 29

Well, after a brief hospital stay, a quick trip back to the hospital & numerous doctor's visits...we are still here!!  The past 4 weeks have been quite the trying time!!  We went from moderate bed rest to permanent bedrest with only being able to get up for 5 minutes at a time.  Last time I updated I had gotten a positive FFN test and was given the steroid shots.   At week 26 weeks 6 days, I went for another cervical length ultrasound.  My cervix had shortened to 1.5 cm.  Dr. Carter sent me to the hospital for monitoring.  Good thing he did because I was having contractions and didn't even know it.  So, they started me on medicine ad kept me over night for more monitoring.  The next day, I had another ultrasound to see how big the babies were. At this point I was exactly 27 weeks.  Evan measured 29 weeks and weighed 2.8 lbs.  Emma measured 28 weeks and weighed a little over 2 lbs.  My cervix was still closed and both babies were still high.  They sent me home with a recheck that following Friday...2 days later. Dr. Beaudrot wouldn't check me on Fiday because of all that had been done earlier in the week.  So, he scheduled me an appointment with Dr. Carter for the next Wednesday.  Early that Tuesday morning, the contractions seemed to be coming quite often, so Dr. Forest wanted me to go to the hospital again.  They got my contractions stopped and told me to start taking the medicine every 4 hours instead of every 6. They also repeated the FFN test and it came back NEGATIVE!!!  That was a huge relief because that meant labor was highly unlikely for 2 weeks.  Since I was 27 weeks, 6 days...that would almost take us to 30 weeks.  Since then, I have had 2 more doctor's appointmets.  Cervix is still closed and babies are still high!  We are  just hoping it stays that way for about 5 more weeks!!  :)  I did get to have one of my showers.  Katie, Alison, Lauren, Shelia, Meg & Angela hosted it at Lauren's house.  I had to lay on the couch the whole time...but I was there!!  We got lots of good things including my favorite..the bath tub!! I didn't get to take any pictures but Angela did, so I hope she will make me copies.  So, for now, we are staying at mommas and taking it easy!! Both babies are very active and are wiggling around as I type!!  They are such precious miracles that we can't wait to meet!!  Well...we can wait a few more weeks...but we are very excited about seeing them!! Until next time...

Week 25

Week 25 hasn't gone quite as I had planned. On Wednesday, I called to make appointment because I was having some abnormal discharge and saw Dr. Beaudrot.  He checked me and said everything was fine. I got him to do the FFN test on me becasue they hadn't done it at my appointment last week.  So, I left the office and headed back to work thinking everything was fine.  I called later that afternoon to get the results of the FFN test and it came back positive meaning that protein had shown up in my vagina.  Normally this doesn't show up unless you are about to go into labor,  Dr. Beaudrot scheduled me for an ultrasound at the hospital for the next day and an appointment with Dr. Russell afterwards. So on Thursday we went for the ultrasound. I was 25 weeks 1 day.  Evan measured 26 weeks 4 days and weighs 2 lbs.  Emma was measuring 25 weeks 4 days and weighed 1 lb. 14 oz.  So, they had both gained 6 oz. in 1 week. Their heartbeats were still strong.  Everything with them looked good.  We then had the cervical length ultrasound and headed for Dr. Russell's appointment. Once he finally got my results from the hospital, he said my cervical length looked great.  It was  measuring 3 cm.  I did remind him though that it had been almost 4 cm just a week before.   He decided to go ahead and give me the steroids shots to develop the babies lungs in case I do go into labor early.  I was glad because it is better to be safe rather than sorry.  So, I am now on bedrest and am not able to work anymore.  Mrs. Gail told me that she would start sending me home work with Robin so I could work from home.  It think I am starting to realize why God never let any of those other jobs I wanted work out!!  I knew there was a reason He was keeping me at Davis & Floyd and this could be one of them!! I start going to the doctor every week now to be checked.  We are hoping to at least make it to week 28.  Once we reach that goal, we are hoping for week 30, then week 35.  I know God is in control and is going to take care of my precious babies!!  We have complete faith in Him and know that this is just another hurdle we have to pass while on our Faithful Journey!!  Although it isn't how we planned things it is how God planned things and His plans are always best!!  Until next time...I will just be laying around....so be sure to check back for future updates!! 

24 Weeks

Here we are at week 24!  Only 16 more weeks to go.   A lot of things have been going on!  First, I have to telll about my experience with the heating pad because this is something I don't want to forget happened!  Dr. Carter told me it was okay to use a heating pad for my back.  Papa got a serious heating pad fromt he VA and I decided to use it.  I laid down and Justin helped me plug it up.  It started getting hot and boy did both of the babies start moving around like CRAZY!!  I panicked and took it off real quick.  Then, both babies stopped moving immediately, so I had to go get out the hear monitor to be sure their little hearts were still beating.  It was a very scary experience for me and I haven't used that heating pad since.  I decided to stick with Icy Hot.  They don't seem to mind that too much.  Just a funny story I want to be able to tell the twins when they get older.  Now on to the fun stuff!!  I had another doctor's appointment on Thursday, August 25th.  I had to be there at 8:20 for my sugar test.  I had really worried about this.  I couldn't believe that it when the nurse handed me that small little cup of juice for me to drink.  It was hardly nothing.  I had drank it in less than a minute.  It actually tasted pretty good to me.  After an hour they checked my sugar and it was in a normal range so I passed!  Yeah!!  I have now gained 8 pounds!  For twins I am supposed to gain that mich during my 1st trimester, but they have never mentioned my weight...so I guess it is alright.  Then, I had another ultrasound.  Joan checked my cervix and it was still really close to 4 cm which is good.  I think the smallest measurement was 3.94cm.  They measure it 3 times and take the shortest length.  Then, she measured both of the babies to see how they were doing.  Evan weighs 1 lb. 12 oz and is measuring in the 76 percentile for his size.  Dr. Forrest says he is going to be a big boy!  Emma weighs 1 lb. 9 oz. and is measuring in the 56 percentile for her size.  Evan's heartrate was 150 bpm and Emma's was 162 bpm.  Then, Joan did some 4-D pictures of the babies.  It was absolutely amazing that even with them being that small you can already tell so much.  Evan looks just like Justin to me!  His little nose and mouth are the exact same as Justin's.  Emma didn't do as well with the picture taking!  Joan was finally able to get her picture but she had her hands up at her face.  She is going to be like her mommy and not like attention and Evan is going to be like his daddy and LOVE attention.  Every ultrasound we have, Evan is showing himself off.  Hopefully that isn't a sign of what is to to come with him.  Then, I got to see Dr. Forrest.  She checked me and said that everything is looking perfect.  I hope it stays that way until these babies can be born safely!! I go back in two weeks and they will check everything again. Both the babies move all the time.  They aren't very active at night which is a good sign.  They aren't keeping me awake, but during the day, someone is moving around all the time.  It is the neatest feeling though!  Still no  new progress with the nursery.  My mom is almost finished with the bed skirts and the curtains.  Hopefully by the next post they will be finished!  I went last weekend and registered at Babies-R-Us.  It was SO much fun!!  I went ahead and bought the stroller and car seats!  Justin put the stroller together last weekend and figured out how the car seats fit into the stroller.  I think we discovered that is more trouble than it will probably be worth, but regardless we know how to do it now!  We are going to register at Wal-Mart Sunday.  My first shower will be Sept. 24th.  Katie, Alison, & Lauren are giving me that one.  I can't wait!  Katie & Alison are going to be such good aunts to these sweet little babies!! Until next time, we will just be taking it easy and hopefully growing like we should!! 


Here is Justin trying to figure out the stroller!



Week 22

Week 22 proved to be an eventful one!  I went to the doctor on Tuesday for my regular check-up.  It started off with an ultrasound to check my cervix.  It was still measuring over 4 cm which is great.   We won't really worry about it unless it gets less than 2.5 cm.  Joan tried to get us some new ultrasound pictures.  Evan was too busy showing himself off again to let us get a god picture of his face and Emma wouldn't really cooperate either.  We did get one picture of her looking directly at us with her mouth wide open.  I think she may like to talk just like her momma does!! :)  Then, it was time to see Dr. Dixon.  Apparently Evan's head was on my cervix in the ultrasound picture and we had to make sure he wasn't getting ready to come at 22 weeks.  This freaked me out a little.  Of course by the time Dr. Dixon checked me again he had moved but then of course I started worrying about this!  I was measuring at 28 weeks and am only 22 weeks but they said that was normal for twins!  Each babies heartrate was good.  Emma's was 148 beats per minute and Evan's was 158 beats per minute.  Dr. Dixon said the appointment was a very reassuring one and that things were going great.  She then proceeded to tell me if I felt any pressure that I needed to come back in.  Of course I didn't say anything at the time but I feel pressure all the time.  The next day I decided to call back and just check on that.  Of course they wanted to see me again.  So, Dr. Carter checked me again and said he thought everything was still good.  I then had to go back on Friday to have a FFN test done.  This is done to check and see if there is protein in my body.  This protein shows up before girls start going into labor.  Thnakfully this test came back negative, so for now we are still good.  I go back on the 25th for my next check-up.  I will have my sugar test done at 8:20, my ultrasound at 8:30, and then my appointment with Dr. Forrest.  I think they will repeat the FFN then again too.  I am hoping they do anyway...so I can be sure the babies are staying put like they need to do!!  As of Wednesday, I have only gained 3 pounds.  Each baby should weigh over a pound themselves...so that isn't much weight that I have actually gained.  They are still moving around a good bit.  Katie was able to feel them this week.  It is so neat.  Me & Justin sit around at night waiting for them to start moving so we can feel them!  I think my mom and I are going to register this week and to buy the car seats and stroller!!  Justin has lots of hunting things going on and doesn't think he would add anything to our registering trip...so he said he wouldn't care if just me and momma went.  He will go with me to register at Wal-Mart.  Ms. Nell Jones gave me our baby gifts today.  It was crocheted afghan's that she had hand-made for each baby!  I absolutely love them and can't wait to wrap my sweet babies in them.  It was such a meaningful gift!  My mom is going to start working on the bedskirts this week for the nursery.  I just got her all my material this afternoon.  So, there still won't be any new pictures to post just yet.  Jason & Ashley brought us 13 trashbags FULL of baby clothes.  It was mainly girls stuff from 3-18 months.  I can't imagine where they put all these clothes.  They didn't bring much boy stuff because Cooper is still only 6 months old, but they say they will pass that stuff on too.  We won't have to buy too many clothes for the next few years!  I spent all this week trying to go through all the clothes and put them in tupperware tubs.  That was a chore but we are lucky they let us use the clothes.  Hand-me downs are a great thing!!  That is about all for this past week.  This coming week should be a pretty quiet one.  I will be sure to post about our registering trip!  I can't wait!!

Week 21

Here we are at week 21!!  The babies are now moving all the time.  Justin, my mom, and Robin at work have all seen one or maybe both of them kicking or hitting me. Normally after I eat something, if I go lay down they will start moving.  I thought I had it figured out as to who was who, but now I am not so sure.  I thought Emma was on my left and Evan was on my right.  But at our last ultrasound, when Joan was measuring Emma she had to go over my belly button, so I think Emma is laying across the top of my stomach and Evan is laying up and down on my left side.  I feel most of the movement on my left side and it is all over the place.  It is the neatest thing ever!!  It is amazing what is going on inside of me.  We finally have all the nursery furniture up and in place.  I LOVE the furniture.  Katie found me some fabric for the crib bedskirt and for the curtains that I also LOVE!!   I was a little skeptical at first when she was describing the fabric, but I don't know why I didn't trust her taste.  She always does so good picking our material...that is why I let her help me in the first place.  It is all different colors with animals printed on it.  It looks perfect with the bumpers I have but I am still not sure about with the sheets.  We may end up taking the sheets back and getting a plain sheets.  That won't be a big deal though.  My mom is going to get to work on making that stuff this coming week and it will add so much to the nursery!  I still need to find a rug for the floor but that will come soon enough.  My mom bought the babies coming home outfits this week and again I LOVE them.  They are the sweetest little outfits.  She has looked everywhere to find these Pattinet outfits and was finally able to find them at a little store in town "The Frilly Frog".  I can't wait to see my precious babies in these little outfits.  I plan to have their pictures made in this outfit once they get here and have it blown up for their room.  I have another ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday, the 9th of August.  It should be just to measure my cervix and make sure things are still going well, but afterwards I get to see Dr. Dixon again.  The babies should both be weighing about a pound by now.  I haven't weighed myself lately so I am not sure how much I have gained.  I will find out Tuesday.  I think my morning sickness is almost gone.  I have gone several days this past week with no medicine.  The couple times I did have to take it was when I think I just had heartburn because the medicine didn't really help.  I hope the old wives tale that when you have a lot of heartburn that your baby will have hair comes true!  Emma already has some bows or barrets that I want her to be able to wear.  I dreamed last week that when they were born both of them had heads full of black hair!  Well see soon enough though.  Hope to have pictures up with the next post.  We have a new computer and I am not sure how to work all that just yet.

Week 19

Here we are almost through week 19!  On Wednesday, I will officially be half way...that is if I make it to 40 weeks.  Last Tuesday, July 19th, we went for our "big" ultrasound in Greenwood.  Baby "A" is still Evan and Baby "B" is still Emma.  As of Tuesday I was 18 weeks and 6 days.  Emma measured 18 weeks 6 days and weighed 10 oz. Evan measured 19 weeks 5 days and weighed 11 oz.  So, they are really close in weight but apparently he must be bigger than her!  His heartbeat this time was 158 beats per minute and hers was 154 beats per minute.  Both babies seemed to be doing just fine.  We got some more ultrasound pictures.  I am pretty sure Evan looks like Justin!  I could be totally wrong but by looking at Evan's profile...it reminds me of Justin.  I honestly can't wait to see what they are going to look like! I checked on my weight since I couldn't remember what it was on my first appointment.  I am still not back to my original weight.  I was so worried that since I haven't gain much weight and that I wasn't showing as much as other people who are about as far along as I am and only have 1 baby... that my babies weren't growing like they should be.  But Dr. Forrest said everything looks fine.  I am feeling the babies move more and more.  They tend to move more at night when I lay down.  It is so amazing to feel that!  It is also comforting because I know they are still in there!   At the appointment I also had another ultrasound to check my cervix.  Everything looks good there too so I have to go back in 3 weeks to check that again.  I think I will be going every 2-3 weeks until they get here to check on that.  If it starts shortening any, I will have to go on bedrest.  We are hoping that isn't the case!  So, I go back on Aug. 9th.  At that appointment I get to see Dr. Dixon and I am glad for that!  I had a little scare on Thursday after my appointment on Tuesday.  I started bleeding some and of course I flipped out.  Any little thing like that scares me.  I immediately called the doctor and she told me it was probably just a blood vessel that was popped when they did the cervix ultrasound.  I tried not to worry but that just isn't in my genes!!  So far, it was only that once that I bled.  I am hoping that is all that was wrong.  Trust me...I have listened to their heartbeats CONSTANTLY since Thursday to be sure they were still beating!  My back has started hurting badly.  I can't ever get comfortable anymore and you might as well forget about sleeping!  Every way I lay hurts.  I have always been one that LOVED to sleep but not anymore.  This is probably God's way of preparing me for some long sleepless nights.  Justin has been such a trooper through all of this.  From helping me clean, to doing laundry, to rubbing my back, to going from the bed to the couch and back to the bed all in one night because I couldn't sleep, to putting their furniture together, to just about everything else imaginable... he has just been great!  I know I haven't been the most pleasant person the past 19 weeks but he has sure been a huge help.  I just hope this help continues once the little ones get here! J/K...I know he will be great with them too!! As for the nursery...I put the bumpers and sheets on the cribs.  I still haven't found a fabric I want for the bedskirt and curtains yet.  We have got to get on that because momma wants that finished before school starts and considering school starts in less than 3 weeks...that doesn't leave us much time!!  We are planning to get the computer and computer table out of the nursery within the next few weeks so the changing table won't be sitting in the middle of the floor anymore.  I ordered the wall stickers to go over their cribs this week.  They should be in and up on the walls before the next post.  I am so excited about that!  I think I have three showers planned as of now.  My church shower is on Oct. 2nd, Justin's family is doing a shower on Oct. 16th and I think Katie and Lauren are doing a shower on Sept. 24th or 25th!  I am getting so excited just thinking about those.  Sweet Emma and Evan will be here before we know it! That is about all for my post this week.

Week 17/18

Not much new going on this week with the babies.  I am starting to feel them move more.  It always seems to be at night, which can't be a good sign!!  I bought the babies their first real outfit this week.  Salak Sally was have a 50% off sale and I have a weakness for baby clothes, so I couldn't help myself.  We go Tuesday, the 19th, for our ultrasound here in Greenwood.  This will confirm that baby "A" and baby "B" are still a boy and a girl, and will also do a lot of testing to be sure everything is going fine with the babies.  I am a little nervous about that appoinment but I know that God has blessed us with two beautiful healthy babies!  We prayed for these miracles for so long...and God answered faithfully, so I know he will answer our prayers for two healthy babies also!!  I braved the scales this week and found out I have only gained 2 pounds.  I was worried it might be like 12 pounds...so I thought that was pretty good.  I actually went the whole day Monday without my "throw-up" medicine.  Tuesday wasn't so good.  I tried to make it two days in a row...but that didn't happen.  I ended up waiting too late to take the medicine and got sick at work.  That wasn't fun.  We are now to Thursday and I again haven't had to take any medicine.  Maybe the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to shine through!! :)   We finally got all the guest bedroom furniture moved back into our small bedroom and set-up and just in time...because the baby furniture is HERE!!   The cribs, dresser, and toy box are in the nursery and put together.  I thought that would be an ordeal but it went rather smoothly...thanks to my sweet hubby!!  Me, Katie, Alison, & momma went to Babies- R- Us last night and the whole theme for my nursery changed.  But, I will defintiely come out cheaper with the new stuff so Justin was excited.  I bought the baby mattresses, crib bumpers, bed sheets, and even some cute maternity clothes for me!  Once Katie helps me pick out the fabric for the bedskirts, curtains, and pillow for toybox...my mom is going to be one busy person!!  The only thing left to buy other than fabric for the nursery is the lettering for the wall and a rug for the floor.  I can't wait to see it completed.  I am going to post just some random pictures of the furniture but I will be sure to post more once we get everything in place and fixed.  This has been so much fun buying and decorating the nursery!  My church shower has been scheduled for Oct. 2nd and that will be here before we know it.  We have so much fun stuff to look forward to within the next 4-5 months!  That is all for this week.  Enjoy the pictures below!!

Justin getting started with the cribs!

Crib #1 completed!

Crib #2 completed!!

The toybox!

The dresser/ changing table!

Emma & Evan's first "real" outfit!!

Me at 18 weeks...it is definitely sticking out there!!

Week 16

This week brings  a lot of mixed emotions.  Sunday night, July 3rd, Papa died.  We have known for the past few weeks that this was coming but regardless of how much you think you are prepared for something like this, you aren't.  All of us spent almost the whole day up there Sunday and Papa didn't wake up at all.  He had been waking up when they would come to move him but Sunday he didn't even make a sound.  Me, Katie, Alison & the boys left about 8:30 or so and went by Katie's house to see the progress they are making on their new house.  We got home about 10 after 10 and as we were pulling into the driveway Momma called and said he had just died.  I hate I wasn't there with him for his last few breaths of life but at the same time, I think he waited for all of us to be gone before he died.  Daddy was there with Momma and I think that is how it should have been.  I have spent a lot of time these last few days thinking about Papa's life and the legacy he will leave behind.  So many people have stopped by and called to tell just how much Papa meant to them.  We knew he meant the world to us but it has been such a blessing to see what he meant to others.  He was definitely a Godly man and a super role model for us girls and momma.  We couldn't have asked for anyone better.  I know that when he left this world Sunday night that Heaven gained another Angel!  And that is what he was.  I can't even imagine what it was like for Papa to meet God face to face and to be reunited with his sweet Drucie!  What a sweet reunion I know that was.  As a Christian I know that I will be reunited with them all one day and what a day of rejoicing that will be!!  As for baby news...Lauren told us this week she is pregnant!!  She hasn't been to the doctor yet, but she thinks she will be due early February!!  I am so excited to have another friend going through this at the same time as me.   Our babies will get to be friends and grow up together!!  I told her it doesn't matter if she has a boy or a girl...either way...it will have a friend!  Also, some more exciting baby news...I think I felt one of the twins move this week.  Actually...I am pretty sure that is what it was.  I was sitting at the Hospice House with momma and Papa when I felt it.  It was very light but considering they are only 4-5 inches long and only weight 3-5 oz...I didn't really expect it to hurt.  Again, I am so amazed at this whole process and knowing that my sweet little babies are growing!!  I went to the doctor last week on the 28th and got to finally see Dr. Dixon again. Everytime I have been in the past,  I have seen other doctors.  She went over several things with me and we got to schedule my gender ultrasound, which will be July 19th.  We listened to the babies heartbeats but that is nothing new to me since I do that everyday here at home anyway.  It comforts me so much to hear their little hearts beating.  Thankfully there was no sugar in my urine this time...but I have really been trying to drink water now instead of drinks with sugar in them.  I had been real worried about getting gestational diabeties but it doesn't look like I have to worry about that just yet.  As of my appointment Tuesday, I only had 1 more pound to gain and I am back to my orginial weight!  I am sure I have passed it now, but I won't be getting back on the scales until the 19th!!  No need to depress myself with weight issues!  I did order the babies cribs and dresser last week and I think I have picked out the bedding that I want.  I am going to take pictures of the nursery progress, so I will be posting as we go.  Nothing much going on in the nursery now.  Justin has moved one dresser out and I am hoping he will move out the bed today.  The baby furniture will be here this week, and I want the room cleaned out before it gets here!  So we are patiently waiting and preparing for our two little miracles!! :)  That is all for this weeks post.

Me at 16 weeks...it grew A LOT this week!!

Week 15

It's a boy and a girl!!  We went yesterday to Wee See Imaging in Columbia to have our gender ultrasound.  Right from the beginning Baby "A", which we can now call Evan, was very cooperative.  It didn't take the lady long at all to figure out what he was.  I don't think he is going to be shy at all!!  Baby "B", which we can now call Emma, was a completely different story.  She refused to uncross her legs for us to see!  The ultrasound lady tried everything she could to get Emma to move.  Evan even tried to help by kicking her in the head.  Finally she must have gotten aggrevated enough because she flipped over.  The whole experience was absolutley amazing to see.  It is so hard to believe all that is going on inside of me and I don't feel a thing! Evan's heart beat was 143 beats per minute and Emma's was 150 beats per minute.  As you can tell we are pretty sure their names will be Emma and Evan, but we are still working on middle names.  I am still sticking with Emma Caroline Turner and Evan Morris Turner...but Justin isn't fully on board.  He hasn't come up with any suggestions on his own though...so my names will probably stick!! :)  Our reveal party didn't happen like we had hoped it would.  We got really discouraging news about my grandpa this week and I didn't feel that it would be appropraite for us to be having a party while he was in the hospital so sick.  Katie did make us some boy and girl cupcakes and just my family met at the hospital for us to tell them so that we could include Papa.  I had refused to talk to any of them all day because I didn't want to somehow give it away as to what the babies were...but I couldn't help smiling when we walked into Papa's room.  Me & Justin even practiced my serious face before we went in...but it didn't work.  Katie already knew one of them was a boy because Justin slipped up on the phone with her and said "him".  He tried to correct himself...but Katie had already heard him.  I got everyone to make their predictions as to what they thought the babies were.  Daddy, Alison, Katie, and Papa all said boy and girl.  Matt said two boys and momma said two girls.  So, I went first and took a blue cupcake...since Katie knew one of them was a boy and Justin was supposed to take the second cupcake.  He tried to trick them by going for a blue one too...but he picked up a pink cupcake.  They were all so excited for us.  While I showed them the pictures and video...Justin called all his family and some of our friends to fill them in.  Before we left Columbia, I made my first baby purchases.  We stopped at Belk to see if I could find some more dresses because they are just easy to wear right now, and we bought each baby a cute little onesie!  Since I now know what they are, I can start buying clothes!!  So, I had to take those to the hospital too and show everyone.  I think we are going to order our furniture this week because we have got to get on the ball!  I hope to have their nursery ready soon, just in case I do end up on bed rest or something.  Justin has been great with everything but I don't know how well he will be at decorating the nursery!  Wednesday starts week 16, and I am still having morning sickness.  I still haven't gained all my weight back yet, but I am getting close.  I know I am eating for 3 now...but good Lord I feel like I am starving all the time!!  That is about all for this week.  We are so excited that we are having a boy and a girl.  We definitely feel that God had blessed us beyond measure.  We couldn't ask for anything more!!

Me & Justin after finding out it was a boy and a girl! 



The boy & girl cupcakes Katie made!



Me holding the girl cupcake and Justin the boy cupcake!







Matt, Katie, and Daddy wearing their pink and blue!



Me & Justin with Papa!



The rest of the family at the reveal party!!



My first baby purchases!!



Me at 15 weeks!



Week 14

Here we are at 14 weeks.  My new week actually starts on Wednesday but I thought Sunday's would be easier for posting.  We just got back from the beach with "The Babb's and Goff's".  Baby "A" and Baby "B" have already spent several days at the beach and didn't even know it.  We can only imagine what next year's vacation will be like!  Today is also Father's Day.  I bought Justin two "Clemson" onesie's...that he loves.  I told him that took a lot for me to spend my money on Clemson outfits for my babies!  Althought I am pretty sure he will influence them to be Clemson fans like their Daddy!  We spent most of the day celebrating with my dad and then at the hospital with my grandpa.  I am so lucky to have 3 wonderful men in my life!! We go Saturday to Wee See Imaging in Columbia to find out if Baby "A" & "B" are she's, he's, or one of each.  We can't wait to find out.  It is a little early.  Normally they do ultrasounds at 16 weeks and I will only be 15 weeks 4 days, but they seem to think they will be able to tell.  We have decided to do a reveal party to let our family and friends all find out at the same time what the babies will be.  Katie is helping me plan.  We are still working on it but next week's post will be sure to have all the details.  Morning sickness (or rather just sickness because it isn't just in the morning) is still around.  I do feel that it is getting better but I was hoping the day I turned 14 weeks that it would be gone.  No such luck.  At my last doctor's appointment I still hadn't gained any weight.  I actually lost about 6 lbs in the beginning and still haven't gained that back yet.  My stomach is measuring 16 cm at 14 weeks but I was told that is normal for twins.  I am going to try to post pictures but since I am still new to this...they may not ever show up!  We have a couple names picked out but only if the twins are a boy and a girl.  It will either be Olivia and Owen or Emma and Evan.  Justin really likes Emma and Evan so that will probably be the ones we pick, if they happen to be a boy and girl.    Emma is a family name on my mom's side and I just think Evan goes good with Emma.  My dad's middle name is Morris, so we are thinking Evan Morris Turner.  Still no definite middle name for Emma.  I kind of like Emma Caroline Turner but that isn't set in stone.  My goal this week is to pick out two girl names and two boy names.  I would like to be able to tell their names at the reveal party.  May not happen but I am going to try.  Justin isn't much help.  The only name he will say he likes is Justin Curtis Turner, Jr. and that isn't an option!  He really hasn't been too picky about the names I come up with.  I have picked out the baby furniture that I want but we still haven't ordered it.  We are working on moving all our guest room furniture back to the small bedroom.  With two babies and two of everything...we needed the larger room.  I will also try to post pictures later on of the nursery's progress! That is pretty much it for now.


Justin's Father's Day present from the twins!

                               


Me at 14 weeks.  Starting to show some.  It still looks like fat instead of babies...but I am sure that will change soon!!



Our last beach trip as a family of two!!



Our story...

Justin and I decided in November of 2009 that we were ready to start the exciting adventure of parenthood.  Justin was ready LONG before I was but he was patient!  Things didn't go exactly how we planned they would.  We thought that by September of 2010 we would be proud new parents but God had different plans for our lives.  Over the past year and a half we have dealt with lots of excitement that soon turned to heartache and we were left with many questions as to whether we would ever get to be parents or not.  It seemed that every time I turned around someone else was pregnant and here we were still waiting! We were praying constantly and trusting God to do what was best for our lives or at least that I what I was claiming to do.  I think Justin did pretty well.  He was definitely a constant reminder to me that we couldn't control our situation and that things would eventually work out for us.  On the other hand, I couldn't understand why God would let this happen to us.  Looking back now, I realize that my plans weren't the best for our lives and God was listening to my prayers.  He was just waiting for his time to answer and boy did he answer!  On April 8th, I found out that I was pregnant!  We didn't want to tell anyone until after I had been to the doctor and they confirmed the pregnancy.  But, since I was supposed to go to Charleston that weekend for Lindsey Jackson's bachelorette party...I had to tell Katie!  So, I told her and swore her to secrecy!!  I went for my first appointment on April 22nd and I was defintiely pregnant!  We were so excited.  We told our families the following Sunday...which happend to be Easter!  We still weren't ready for others to know just yet...so again we made our families promise to keep quiet!  My first ultrasound was scheduled for May 10th.  I don't think I have ever been that nervous!  A million things were doing through my head as we waited in that waiting room for what seemed like HOURS!  It was really only about 30 minutes but it seemed like a lifetime.  Then it was finally time to see our baby.  We never imagined that the next 30 minutes would change our lives forever!  I was telling Joan, the ultrasound lady, about me being a twin and the fact that she had been the one to tell my parents they were expecting twins.  We were just chit chatting and all of a sudden, Joan told Justin that he didn't need to look at the screen.  My heart immediately started pounding because I just knew something was wrong.  I asked her is she saw something and she said I see "five" babies.  I said "What" and she said no but I do see two babies.  I looked at her and said "Are you kidding"?  She said no and I started crying!  A couldn't imagine what in the world we were going to do with TWO babies.  Justin was grinning from ear to ear and here I was crying my eyes out.  We continued through the rest of the ultrasound.  Baby "A's" heartbeat was 178 beats per minute and Baby "B's" was 170 beats per minute. I can't remember what they were measuring because I was still in shock at that point.  I am surprised I remember anything.  Well, the ultrasound ended and Joan insisted that I see the doctor before I left.  So, they put us in a room and I told Justin then that something was wrong.  Dr. Russell came in and told us that the fluid around Baby "B" was not at the level it should be and that I would have to come back in two weeks to check and see what happened.  I left that day telling Justin, something is going to happen to Baby "B".  I don't really know how to describe the feelings I was having.  I thought I just wanted to go in there and them tell me that my baby was fine and us walk out like normal people do.  Here we were again in a situation where I was questioning God.  There were several possible outcomes to this situation: 1) both babies would be fine 2) Something would happen to Baby B and my body would just absorb it (this is what is known as the Disappearing Baby Syndrome) or 3) I would miscarry both babies.  You can only imagine what the next two weeks were like for me.  I felt like God was going to take my second baby because of the way I acted when we found out it was two.  It was like He gave us a double blessing and I was mad about it.  Justin told me constantly that day, "Marcie...God answered our prayers with 2 babies!  We are lucky!"  Those two weeks CREEPED by and we went back for our 2nd ultrasound on May 27th.  I think even my grandma in Heaven must have been praying for these babies because the fluid on Baby "B" was back to normal and we were told that everything was going fine now.  Both of their heartbeats were 166 beats per minute and they were both measuring right where they should be.  Once again, I left the doctor's office crying but this time it was tears of joy.  We gave our parents the OK to start telling it and I think within a couple hours all of 96 and most of Greenwood knew.  My phone rang and beeped with text messages all afternoon.  It was such a blessing to see so many people excited for us even though many of them didn't know the long difficult road we had faced.  So, now we are super excited about the idea of two babies and we know that in God's Perfect Timing he answered our prayers.  I hope you will continue to follow us and the story of "Our Faithful Journey"!!

Our first picture as a family of FOUR!!!